White iPhone 4 Delays Due to Light Leakage?
The latest theory on the reason behind Apple's white iPhone 4 delay comes from Scott Moritz of TheStreet, who reports that the issue stems from backlight leakage around the edges of the device's glass and even through its white back.
Apparently, the back light from the iPhone display screen is leaking out around the edges of the glass and seeping through the back of the white phone, according to a person familiar with the manufacturing process.
According to the report's source, the lower opacity of the white back compared to the black one is responsible for the issue, and the glass construction makes it considerably more difficult to simply fill in the gaps where the light is leaking through than it would for devices with plastic or metal cases.
The report also notes that this issue is not unique to Apple's iPhone 4, as the HTC EVO has also received some publicity for minor light leakage through seams in its casing.
Previous reports had suggested that the delay was due to paint thickness and color consistency issues with the screen printing process for the white iPhone parts, although the various reports could theoretically be differing descriptions of the same issues coming from parties with only partial knowledge of the situation.
Moritz has had a number of inaccurate claims over the years, although he did correctly predict that Apple would introduce $200 subsidies on the iPhone 3G to bring the entry-level price down to $199 back in 2008.
White iPhone 4 Delay Details Emerge
Okay obviously any iPhone fan holding on for the eventual release of the white iPhone 4 has had disappointment after disappointment as Apple continually delays the release of the white version which they say is due to manufacturing issues.
Well apparently Boy Genius of the BGR of course, has apparently found out some details as to the delay of the white iPhone 4 and the issues Apple is facing in getting that whiter than white device into the public’s hands.
It’s all to do with the paint and getting it thick enough for the front of the device, Apple wants it perfect white without any transparency and without affecting the proximity sensor and its causing a problem. Also there appears to be an issue with the paint itself apparently although the back panels are ok as they have no need to keep clear areas for the LCD display.
Apparently the handset isn’t “perfectly white” due to the binder Apple was using which gave it an off-white tint which Apple doesn’t want. However according to the BGR’s source Apple may have solved the issue and the white iPhone 4 could possible see release in the near future.
So there you have it, apparently it’s all a paint issue and the fact that Apple wants the white iPhone 4 to be pure white with no blemishes. Does that mean Apple will guarantee a free matching pure white bumper case with every white iPhone 4?
Wacky White iPhone 4 Theory: Delayed for Antenna Fix
There's nothing like a juicy Apple conspiracy theory, and the latest one about the white iPhone 4 is too good to lay off: Is Apple delaying the white iPhone 4 to find a fix for reception issues?
I can't take credit for that theory; Jay Yarow at Business Insider had the idea first, noting that Apple is only offering free iPhone 4 bumper cases until September 30, and that the white iPhone 4 is delayed until "later this year."
Coincidence? Probably, but Yarow theorizes that Apple could come up with a fix for the iPhone 4's antenna problem and save itself the cost of free bumper cases when the white iPhone 4 finally arrives.
Existing iPhones can lose signal when a finger is held over the phone's lower left-hand corner, bridging the gap in the phone's external antenna. The problem is mostly noticeable in areas of poor reception, and is alleviated with bumper cases that Apple is now providing for free. Apple has estimated that the bumper case giveaway will cost $175 million.
I think whatever additional losses Apple would endure from free white iPhone cases would be a drop in the bucket, and there's no guarantee Apple will come up with an antenna fix anyway. But there's a bigger flaw in the white iPhone antenna theory: Apple is already selling more iPhones than it can supply. Even if the iPhone 4 was available in white, Apple wouldn't be able to supply more phones in total, so there would be no need to give away additional cases.
The only way Apple can save on free case giveaways is by intentionally selling fewer iPhones in all colors -- another wacky conspiracy that you're welcome to consider. My feeling is that the profit Apple gains from each iPhone 4 sale far outweighs the cost of a bumper case, and it's not worth making people wait longer than they already are.
